PM to inaugurate, lay foundation stone of 50 industries and infrastructures Sunday

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 50 industries and infrastructures.

She will formally inaugurate the Karnaphuli Drydock Special Economic Zone, connecting virtually from her official residence Ganabhaban.

Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (Beza) will hold the programme on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the country's independence.

Beza Executive Chairman Sheikh Yusuf Haroon will deliver the welcome speech, according to a press release from Karnaphuli Drydock Special Economic Zone.

A video documentary on the activities of the Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority will be screened at the programme.

Karnaphuli Drydock Special Economic Zone is in Badalpura and Shah Mirpur mauza, at the south of Karnaphuli river. It was established in March last year by one of the largest companies of the country, Karnaphuli Ship Builders Ltd., taking land from BEZA.

The World Bank has provided a soft loan of Tk800 crore for the drydock construction cost.

This drydock is 285 metres long and 56 metres wide with a draft of 14 metres. It is possible to build and repair ships weighing 100,000 tonnes at the dock. Construction of another drydock at a cost of Tk1,200 crore is also in progress now.

Construction of two jetties under Karnaphuli Drydock Special Economic Zone at Anwara on the south bank of Karnaphuli river has already been completed. Import cargo ships have started arriving at the jetty and loading-unloading activities are going on regularly.

This is playing a helpful role in reducing congestion and productivity of cargo ships of Chittagong port.

Foreign currency is being saved due to reduction in wait time of ships, especially at outer anchorage.

Under the said economic zone, 20.98 acres of land will be taken lease by Beza for the construction of two more jetties and container terminals, and two more jetties will be constructed on Karnaphuli Ship Builders' own land.

The project inauguration and foundation stone laying will be held simultaneously from a total of 8 venues.

The venues are: Ganabhaban, Dhaka; Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Shilpa Nagar in Mirsarai, Chattogram; Srihatta Economic Zone in MoulviBazar; Karnaphuli Drydock SEZ in Anwara, Chattogram; Meghna Industrial Economic Zone in Sonargaon, Narayanganj; Jamalpur Economic Zone in Jamalpur Sadar; Sabrang Tourism Park in Cox's Bazar; and Hossaindi Economic Zone in Gazaria, Munshiganj.

The event will conclude with an exchange of views with investors of the last economic zone.

Karnaphuli Ship Builders Ltd has already built 1200 ships and boats, repaired about 800 ships and built 50 dredgers and handed them over to the government.